Institute for Social Development – empowerment of women in Odisha

Welcome to Our Website !

“A 28 -year journey is indeed a remarkable milestone. Providing psycho-social counseling and support to women survivors of violence has always been an integral part of ISD’s mission. We reaffirm our commitment to continue our efforts with compassion and dedication, ensuring that every woman facing violence receives the care, support, and guidance she deserves.”

VISION

A violence-free, gender-sensitive society that promotes social development through the active participation of the poorest and most marginalized women in all decision-making processes.

MISSION

To build an equal, just, and violence-free society — one where every woman stands strong and equal alongside her male counterpart.

CORE VALUES

Equality: Promoting gender justice and equal opportunities for all.
Empowerment: Enabling women to gain control over their lives and decisions.
Integrity: Upholding transparency, accountability, and ethical practice.
Participation: Ensuring inclusive processes that involve community members at every stage.
Solidarity: Working collaboratively with partners, networks, and communities for shared goals.

KEY FOCUS AREAS:

ISD works across a wide range of interrelated areas to promote gender justice and women’s empowerment, including:

Violence Against Women (VAW): Addressing domestic violence, trafficking, sexual harassment, acid attacks, and other forms of gender-based violence.
Women’s Human Rights: Promoting the protection and realization of women’s civil, social, and economic rights.
Child and Girl Child Protection: Preventing child marriage, child trafficking, and ensuring girls’ education and safety.
Livelihood Strengthening: Enhancing women’s economic independence through skill development and income-generation initiatives.
Leadership and Decision-Making: Building capacities of women leaders and encouraging their active participation in community governance.
Awareness and Advocacy: Promoting gender-sensitive laws, policies, and social norms through advocacy, campaigns, and networking.

CREATING CHANGEMAKERS

A key strategy of ISD is to nurture changemakers at the community level—women and youth who can lead the process of transformation within their own environments. By strengthening their capacity and confidence, ISD ensures the sustainability of its initiatives and the continued progress toward a just and equitable society.

Director's Message

The Institute for Social Development (ISD), a registered women’s organization operating in the state of Odisha, has been extensively working on the issue of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) since its inception in 1997. Over the years, ISD has been recognized by the Government, Civil Society Organizations, and the Media as one of the pioneer frontline women’s organizations in the state.

We have maintained and strengthened our position as a lead agency addressing Violence Against Women, continuing our dedicated services to survivors through the Maadhyam Women Support Centre, in collaboration with the Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar–Cuttack, and the One Stop Center (SAKHI) at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, in partnership with the Government of Odisha and supported by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.

At ISD, we believe that gender issues are fundamentally issues of personal identity, shaped by cultural and social definitions of gender roles. The identities we hold as men and women are not fixed but dynamic and evolving. Traditionally, gender work has often focused solely on women, without sufficient recognition of the relational and contextual dimensions of their lives. This binary view of gender—as two opposite and distinct categories—has often limited the impact of interventions.

In reality, attributes considered “masculine” or “feminine” exist within both men and women. For women’s empowerment to be truly transformative and sustainable, it must be accompanied by positive change among men as well. This becomes even more significant when our efforts focus on youth groups, who have the potential to shape the values and attitudes of the next generation and bring meaningful social change.

Our 28-year journey has been possible because of the warmth, dedication, and contributions of many—founder members, board members, staff, colleagues, partners, community women leaders, survivor groups, volunteers, and interns. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your commitment, trust, and friendship.

While we celebrate our achievements and the progress we’ve made, we are also mindful of the challenges ahead, especially in ensuring the sustainability of our initiatives. Yet, we take pride in the positive change we create every day for thousands of women and children experiencing violence and abuse. It is with this knowledge, and with optimism and determination, that we continue our mission.

Thank you for your unwavering support and solidarity. We look forward to walking together in our shared vision of a violence-free and gender-just society.

Internship

We are happy to invite a number of students from Psychology, MSW , Women’s Studies, Sociology & Law stream of your college or University for an Internship Programme with us.

Become a Volunteer

Volunteering gives you a great feeling because you know you’re making a difference. Are you willing to become a volunteer in our organization? We are looking for people to join our wonderful team of volunteers! If you would like to learn new skills, be a part of our team ,meet new people and inspire those around us, why not contact us to find out more?

Make a Donation

To donate for our work please fill the donation form available below. We promise to provide adequate space to your support. It is pertinent to mention that the contribution made to our organization is exempted under 80( G)of Income Tax Act